2008 Season-- Top Juniors In Northwest Suburban Area

Seen St Viator play the other day.

Eric Walantas (St. Viator CF, P.) Great speed, good defense, hits for power and average, a great competitor on the mound, good change-up.

Brett Kay (st. Viator SS) Great hands, strong arm, great leadoff hitter, hits for average

I got a question for some of you that might talk to college coaches often. I know Sparky does maybe he can comment on this. What's your take on sophmores going to showcases over the summer? I tend to think it's a waste, most colleges will be focusing on the junior's if they see a soph they might think he's good but also say he's young and want to see how he is next year. I would say it's better for the soph to just play summer ball, get into a decent fall league and possibly go to a fall or winter showcase that's during his junior year. I think most soph's aren't even prepared or developed enough to do well in a showcase yet. What's your all take on that?

bystandr,

since you called me out I'll let you know exactly what I think.

I think you need to ask the people who run the showcases.. PG Staff, PBR,, Harvey Foster, and some of the HS coaches involved with that stuff.

What the heck does knowing college coaches have to do with anything here?

What you need to do is get to your agenda. Give good ole spark plug a call and get it going ,

pretty funny stuff though.

Thanks for the chat. Enjoyed "it"

I was being totally serious. I wasn't trying to call you out or anything like that. I think you know what your talking about and have a good understanding of things. My question was innocent, not trying to get things going like spark plug at all. I am trying to figure out if it would be worth while for a player at the age of 16, or a sophmore to attend a showcase over the summer or just play summer baseball and wait till he's a junior to attend a showcase or a college camp. My thought process is they are too young and the colleges wouldn't be looking at them that young, they'd be better off working on their game and getting better that summer than going to a bunch of showcases. I was actually giving you a compliment and asking your advice on that scenario because I respect your opinion. Please understand that.

innocent bystandr,

I was being serious as well.. ask those people who run them. Maybe they can give you some insight.

Alright, i'll do that. Don't want to be included in with Spark plug that's all, seems like he's all about stirring up trouble and doesn't know much about what he's saying.

Now that the season is heading toward it's final week, I thought that it might be a good time to revisit this. Anybody surprise anyone? I'm pleased with my picks. I saw in the paper today that Matt Nelson is 6-0 for Cary. Bruns has pitched well also.

I'll nominate Logan Olsen from Prarie Ridge. Hitting over 400...Hits in the two hole, steals bases and gets after it in right field with a better than average arm. He would pitch...but were loaded. He wasn't on the radar screen with us and is a pleasant surprise along with Will Mack who is catching fire lately.

Ian Gardeck from South is going to open all the college coaches eyes this summer if he gets with the right team in the right showcase tournaments.

The catcher from Woodstock is the real deal as well. He can swing it, bunt, hit for power and has a good arm. Plus he plays with an edge. Cary has at least three or four juniors who are legit.

Roy you forgot a few from what I have seen and read.
There's one from your own school you forgot, Nolan Jacoby. From Crystal Lake South: Gavin Meyer. From Dundee Crown: Logan Kissack. From Huntley: Tanner Funke and Craig Lipp. From Woodstock: Derek Brown. From Mchenry: Nick Brennan & Mike Canevello. From Cary: Matt Nelsen, Cory Bruns and Nick Hammonds.

Agreed with the 3 starting Prairie Ridge juniors- Jacoby, Olson, Mack... all three are having good years and helping Prairie Ridge's offense. Olson hits two, Jacoby fifth driving in runs behind Martini and Swank, and Mack bats ninth I believe as a second-type lead off guy. But there are many other juniors in the FVC making noise as well.

Huntley- Craig Lipp (OF), Tanner Funke (LHP)

CL South- Gavin Meyer (OF), Ian Gardeck (RHP), James Vazquez (2B)

Cary Grove- Matt Nelsen (RHP), Corey Bruns (RHP), Nick Hammonds (OF), Keegan Mascarella (OF), Luke Mottashed (C)

Grayslake Central- Kurt Schmidt (2B)

Johnsburg- Jerad Grundy (LHP)

McHenry- Nick Brennan (1B), Mike Canavello (2B/OF)

Woodstock- Derek Brown (LHP/1B)

Dundee Crown- Logan Kissack (1B)

Jacobs- John Amann (C)